David Levine is a GOVERNING contributor and freelance writer, who specializes in health and medical issues. His work has been published in the New York Times, American Heritage, Sports Illustrated and many other publications. Levine is the author/co-author of six books about sports. He is also a contributing editor at Wainscot Health Media and a contributing writer at Hudson Valley magazine.

The Affordable Care Act gave state insurance commissioners the power to review rate increases of 10 percent or more but left it up to the states to decide whether they also have the power to reject them.

Whether or not Americans support doctors helping terminally ill patients to voluntarily end their lives depends on the words used to describe the issue. Those words also determine the success of such bills.

Nearly every state has a prescription drug monitoring program, but most aren't being used by providers and pharmacists. New York's new system makes it easier to get the right data in the hands of the right people.

Hemp – a substance that can't get you high but can be used to make products like paper and plastic – was banned along with marijuana because they have a similar chemical make-up. As states legalize pot, even more are legalizing hemp.

Rather than wait for lawmakers and insurers to provide adequate coverage, some dentists and public health advocates have taken it upon themselves to try to reduce the number of ER visits for dental problems.